Woman's Head

Timoteo Viti

Summary

A reproduction produced by the Vasari Society of a drawing by Timoteo Viti. The drawing shows the head of a woman with her gaze directed to the right and her head tilted slightly to the left. The woman has her hair tied up with a thick band wrapped around her head just above her forehead. A few strands of hair escape this headband on the right side. She has a straight nose, and the width of her lips is very narrow. Text from the accompanying booklet produced by the Vasari Society: "No. 9 TIMOTEO VITI (b. 1467; d. 1523) STUDY OF A WOMAN'S HEAD British Museum, 1893-10-8-1. Black chalk. 19 x 15.2 cm. (7 1/2 6 in.) Head in full face, inclined to the left, eyes looking to the right. Another example drawn with a far firmed hand, and more vigour and emphasis of modelling and outline than the last; the heavy shadow defining the upper eyelids is regarded as one of the recognized marks of Timoteo's work. The type of sitter is almost exactly the same as in several drawings of which the authorship is disputed between Timoteo and Raphael; but in this case the grace and lightness of touch and rhythmic sense of line seem wanting which should make it possible to claim the drawing for Raphael; and the attribution may be accepted with little question, which is indicated by the letters T. V. drawn in ink on the margin of the sheet. These initials were similarly placed on many drawings by the master in the collection of the Antaldi family at Pesaro before its dispersal, and have been imitated by dealers and collectors on drawings which they wished it to be believed came from that collection. The present example was bought by chance in a London shop, and has no known previous history. SIDNEY COLVIN."